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Hall of Fame

While the ultimate goal of music should be to enjoy and appreciate it, the joy of competition can also be a great way to enhance the overall experience of learning and performing music.  Over the years, many of our students have won numerous awards and received various commendations from schools, colleges, and State and Government agencies. Every year our string and woodwind students audition for and successfully perform with the best local children’s orchestras:  SEMSBA, NEC, South Eastern Massachusetts District, All-State, and Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras.  Among our students are winners of prestigious international piano competitions and even Miss America Pre-Teen!  The list is too long to fit on this page, but you can see their pictures and trophies on the walls of the Sharon Music Academy and listen to their performances on SMA Youtube Channel. Please also visit our  Facebook and Twitter pages for more pictures and movie clips. Below is a short list of our students’ achievements over the last several years.

2023
Massachusetts Music Teachers Association
Baystate Piano Contest
  • SophiaPopescu - 1st place
  • Katherine Zhang - 1st place
  • Agnus Cai - 1st place
  • Elena Zhang - 1st place
  • Brooke Zhang - 2nd place
  • Olivia Yu - 3rd place
  • Raesha Chen - Honorable Mention
  • Thea  Xu - Honorable Mention
  • David Liu - Honorable Mention
Young Artists Piano Competition
  • Matthew Popescu - 1st place
  • Katherine Zhang - 1st place
  • Scarlett Ye - 1st place
  • Lucas Ye - 3rd place
Thea Xu - Age 6
  • Platinum Award, Cash Prize, and Special Prize for "The Best Performance of Bach" in the Keys! Music Challenge Competition
  Ian Lin - Age 14
  • NEPTA Wanda Paik Award
  • 3rd Place - XIV Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT
  • Bach Award for Intelligent Interpretation, 2023 Piano Extravaganza
Paulina Chervachidze - Age 16
  • Concertmaster, SEMSBA orchestra
Agnus Cai - Age 12
  • NEPTA Nancy Oliver Award
  • 1st Place - XIV Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT
  • Schubert Award for Lyrical Playing, 2023 Piano Extravaganza
Brooke Zhang - Age 7
  • 2nd Place - XIV Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT
William Huang - Age 10
  • 3rd Place - XIV Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT
  • Schubert Award for Lyrical Playing, 2023 Piano Extravaganza
Elena Zhang - Age 9
  • 3rd Place - XIV Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT
  • Rachmaninoff Award for Mature Playing,  2023 Piano Extravaganza
Katherine Zhang - Age 7
  • 3rd Place - XIV Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT
Raesha Chen - Age 10
  • Honorable Mention - XIV Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT
District Orchestra
  • Juliana Chen (violin)
  • Samantha Neshurin (violin)
  • Paulina Chervachidze (violin )
Thrisha Tran - Age 17 Sophia Popescu - Age 12
  • Mozart Award for Impressive Fingers, 2023 Piano Extravaganza
  • Honorable Mention, NEPTA Mildred Freiberg Competition
Great Composers International Competition Series, 2023 The Music Of Northern Europe Competition
  • Mila Salomone - Age Group II- FIRST PRIZE
  • Raymond Liu - Age Group III - FIRST PRIZE
  • Jenna Qina He - Age Group IV- SECOND PRIZE
2022
VII FUTURE STARS 2022 INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
  • Sophia Popescu - 1st Place
  • Katherine Zhang - 2nd Place
  • Scarlett Yi - 2nd Place
  • Agnus Cai -3rd Place
  • Elena Zhang - 3rd Place
2022 Bay State Piano Competition
  • Katherine Zhang - 2nd Place
  • Elena Zhang - Honorable Mention
  • Raesha Chen - 3rd Place
  • Sophia Popescu - 2nd Place
  • William Huang - Honorable Mention
  • Olivia Yu - 2nd Place
Nina Roco - Age 17
  • Principal Second Violin, District orchestra
Paulina Chervachidze - Age 15
  • Concertmaster, SEMSBA orchestra
  • First Violin Section, District Orchestra
Ian Lin - Age 13
  • National Finalist, NMTA Composition Competition
  • Honorable Mention, NMTA Eastern Division Composition Competition
  • Second Prize, Age Group III, Best Chopin Performance Competition, great Composers Competition Series
  • 2nd Place -  2022 Steinway Society Piano Competition
  • 3rd Place - NEPTA Mildred Freiberg Competition
  • 1st place winner of the XIII International Chopin Competition, Young Talents Category
Marianna McCallum - Age 14 Michael Karshis - Age 17 Yulia Golger-Kajimoto  - Age 13
  • 1st place, Best Bach Competition, great Composers Competition Series
  • 3rd place, Young Talents Category,  XIII International Chopin Competition
Sophia Popescu - Age 11
  • 1st Place -  2022 Steinway Society Piano Competition
  • 1st Place - 37th International Young Artist Piano Competition in Washington, DC.
Chopin International Competition 2022
  • Young Talents Category
  • Ian Lin, 1st Place
  • Agnus Cai, 3rd Place
  • Julia Golger-Kajimoto, 3rd Place
  • Junior category
  • Sophia Popescu, 2nd Place
  • Scarlett Yi, 3rd Place
  • Katherine Zhang, 3rd Place
  • Raesha Chen, Honorable Mention
  • William Huang, Honorable Mention
URI Piano Extravaganza 2022
  • Elena Zhang - Debussy Award for Picturesque Playing
  • Katherine Zhang - Liszt Award for Great Showmanship
  • Raesha Chen - Rachmaninoff Award for Mature Playing
  • Scarlett Yi - Chopin Award for Elegant Playing
  • William Huang - Schubert Award for Lyrical Playing
Great Composers International Competition Series, 2022   Music from Germany and Austria Competition   Age Group II - FIRST PRIZE
  • Raesha Chen
  • William Huang
Age Group III - SECOND PRIZE
  •  Agnus Cai
  • Olivia Yu
Best Haydn Performance Competition   Age Group I - FIRST PRIZE
  •  Katherine Zhang
Age Group II - FIRST PRIZE
  • Raesha Chen
  • Scarlett Yi
Best Chopin Performance Competition   Age Group II - SECOND PRIZE
  • Scarlett Yi
  • Sophia Popescu
Age Group III - FIRST PRIZE
  • Yulia Golger-Kajimoto
Best Rachmaninoff Performance Competition   Age Group IV - SECOND PRIZE
  • Michael Roth
Music of Eastern Europe Competition   Age Group IV - THIRD PRIZE
  • Danny Li
Chaminade Club Scholarship Awards 2022
  • Ian Lin – 1st prize $500
  • Agnus Cai and Jason Li - 2nd prize $300
Amanda Li - Age 14
  • Flute section District
  • Flute section SEMSBA
2022 Kinder Keys Competition Jenna He - Age 13
  • Gold Medal
Jason Li - Age 17
  • Gold Medal
Lucas Yi - Age 7
  • Platinum Medal
Brooke Zhang - Age 6
  • Platinum Medal
Katherine Zhang - Age 6/William Huang - Age 9
  • Platinum medal, duet
Gavin Warnakulasooriya - Age 14
  • Orchestra “MVP,”  Remington Middle School Orchestra
2021
THE STEINWAY SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS  PIANO COMPETITION
  • Michael Karshis, 1st Place
  • Sophia Popescu, 3rd Place
  • Scarlet Yi, Honorable Mention
https://steinwaysocietymass.org/2021-steinway-society-competition-winners-announced/?fbclid=IwAR3Wqan7ehPiJzRuFi_g8CB8kVJ-zf9Ajy7Ys0AF1D6HyG56ERaHaaJj-dY   Connecticut Chopin Foundation - Tour
  • Mila Solomone
  • Yulia Golger
  • William Huang
  • Agnus Cai
Janelle Li- Age 17
  • 2nd place winner of the  Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2019 Bay State Contest, $2.5k National Merit Scholarship award
https://patch.com/massachusetts/sharon/sharon-senior-wins-2-5k-national-merit-scholarship?utm_term=article-slot-1&utm_source=newsletter-daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&fbclid=IwAR0YCQFn7ybg1mlXkwYWfPuzhLB_goVZ4PiO0ZJx5KoWWVdV2ztH9ebD6Wk Ian Lin - Age 12
  • Finalist - Junior Eastern Division, Music Teachers National Association
  • 1st place,  MTNA Junior Composition Competition Eastern Division.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCOLj5O7Oc0
  • NEPTA Alice Proctor Award for Outstanding Original Composition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZXlA9HdMLc&feature=share
  • Artistic Achievement, NEPTA Nancy Oliver Award
Winners of Future Stars International Piano Competition
  • Agnus Cai
  • Scarlet Yi
  • William Huang
  • Raesha Chen
Tanya Schwartzman - SMA Music Director
  • Outstanding Teacher Award, Future Stars International Piano Competition
Tri-M Music Honor Society members
  • Angelina Manolios
  • Alexis Maron
  • Preetish Paul
2020
27 students of the Sharon Music Academy became the winners of the Crescendo International Festival and Little Mozarts International Competition and were invited to perform on the famous stage of Carnegie Hall. Members of the SE District and SEMSBA orchestras and choirs:
  • Justin Luk ( first violins section )
  • Nina Roco ( first violins section )
  • Benji Cao ( first violins section )
  • Paulina Chervachidze (  first violins section )
  • Anna Nichamoff ( first violins section )
  • Sridhar Murthy ( cello section )
  • Mirielle Yampolsky ( choir )
  • Angelina Manolios ( choir )
  • Stefan Pedicone ( choir – All-State and District )
Michael Karshis, age 15
  • 2nd place at the Ruth Davidson Competition of the New England Piano Teachers Association
  • 2nd place in the 2020 Steinway Society Competition
  • 2nd Prize winner at 2020 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition.
  • Mozart Award for Great Fingers at 2020 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition.
  • 3rd place in the XI  International Chopin Piano Competition.
Ian Lin, age 11
  • Overall Best at 2020 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
  • 1st place at the XI International Chopin Piano Competition
  • 1st place in the 2020 Steinway Society Competition
  •  Beethoven Award for Dramatic Playing  at 2020 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
Samantha Neshurin, age 9
  • Concertmaster of the Junior Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra
Ella Do, age 10
  • Haydn Award for Witty Playing at 2020 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
  • Honorable Mention at V Paderewski International Piano Competition
Julia Gendin, age 12
  • Tchaikovsky Award for Grandiose Playing at 2020 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
  •  Nancy Oliver Award and cash prize from New England Piano Teachers Association.
  •  Honorable Mention at V Paderewski International Piano Competition
Sophia Popescu, age 8
  • 3rd place at the 2020 Steinway Society Competition
  • Bach Award for Intelligent Interpretation  at 2020 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
William Howes, age 17
  • Overall 2nd place and Chopin Award for Sensitive Playing at 2020 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
Agnus Cai, age 9
  • 3rd place at V Paderewski International Piano Competition
Raesha Chen, age 7
  • 3rd place at V Paderewski International Piano Competition
Janelle Li, age 16
  • 4th place at V Paderewski International Piano Competition
William Huang, age 8
  • Honorable Mention at V Paderewski International Piano Competition
Jenna He, age 11
  • Honorable Mention at V Paderewski International Piano Competition
2019
Members of the SE District and SEMSBA orchestras and choirs:
  • Justin Luk ( concertmaster of the second violins )
  • Nina Roco ( first violins section )
  • Benji Cao ( first violins section )
  • Paulina Chervachidze (  first violins section )
  • Preetish Paul ( second violins section )
  • Siddharth Bharadwaj ( first violins section )
  • Sridhar Murthy ( cello section )
  • Rohan Valety ( cello section )
  • Melissa Souza ( flute section )
  • Mirielle Yampolsky ( choir )
  • Angelina Manolios ( choir )
Members of Tri-M Music Honor Society
  • Siddharth Bharadwaj
  • Manjari Kannan
  • Lena Katz
Michael Karshis, age 14
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2019 Bay State Contest.
  • Tchaikovsky Award for Most Grandiose Playing at 2019 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
  • 1st Place and cash award in Chaminade Society Competition.
  • 2nd place in New England Piano Teachers Association Competition.
  • 2rd place in the IV International Paderewski Piano Competition.
Ian Lin, age 10
  • Overall Best at 2019 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
  • 1st place at the IV International Paderewski Piano Competition
Ella Do, age 9
  • First Prize and $150 cash award at  “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Julia Gendin, age 11
  • Mozart Award for the Youngest Performer/Most Promising at 2019 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
William Huang, age 7
  • 2nd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2019 Bay State Contest.
  • Top Performer and a cash prize “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Gabriel Martinez Ovando, age 7
  • Platinum Award at “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Avia Abid, age 8
  • Gold Award at “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Chandrika Rajkumar, age 12
  • Gold Award at “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Hanson Zhu, age 9
  • Gold and Top Performer Award at “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Matthew Popescu, age 5
  • Gold and Best Stage Presence Award at “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Janelle Li, age 14
  • 2nd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2019 Bay State Contest.
  • 2nd Place and cash award in Chaminade Society Competition.
Sophia Popescu, age 7
  • 1st place at the IV International Paderewski Piano Competition
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2019 Bay State Contest.
  • Gershwin Award for Most Stylish Playing at 2019 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
William Howes, age 16
  • Overall 3rd place and Bach Award for Most Intelligent Interpretation at the 2019 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
William Zelevinsky, age 7
  •  3rd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2019 Bay State Contest.
Agnes Cai, age 8
  •  Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2019 Bay State Contest.
Raesha Chen, age 6
  •  Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2019 Bay State Contest.
2018
Michael Karshis, age 13
  • 1st place winner – 33rd International Young Artists Piano Competition in Washington, DC. Performance on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center.
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2018 Bay State Contest.
  • 2nd Place and cash award in Mildred Freiberg Competition.
  • Wanda Paik Award from New England Piano Teachers Association.
  • 3rd place  at the III International Paderewski Piano Competition.
Tomer Nuriyev, age 15
  • 1st place for The Best Performance of Contemporary Music and 2nd Place and cash award in Ruth Davidson Competition.
  • 3rd Place and cash award in Harvard Music Society Award Audition.
  • 3rd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2018 Bay State Contest.
  • Honorable Mention at the III International Paderewski Piano Competition
Ian Lin, age 9
  • Alice Procter Award for an outstanding original composition in the classical style.
  • Beethoven Award for the Most Dramatic Playing at 2018 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
Nina Roco, age 13
  • Concertmaster of Junior SEMSBA orchestra.
Siddharth Bharadwaj, age 16
  • First Violin section of the SEMSBA Senior Orchestra.
Sridhar Murthy, age 15
  • Cello section of the South Eastern District MMEA Festival Senior Orchestra.
  • Gold Medal Award at the Milton Young Musician Competition
Melissa Souza, age 15
  • 1st chair of flute section of the South Eastern District MMEA Festival Senior Orchestra.
Ella Do, age 8
  • Mozart Award as the most promising pianist at 2018 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
Julia Gendin, age 10
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2018 Bay State Contest.
  • Debussy Award for the most Picturesque Playing at 2018 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
Aaron Shaltis, age 8
  • Silver Award at “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Irene Dong, age 5
  • Gold Award at “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Avia Abid, age 8
  • Gold Award at “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Chandrika Rajkumar, age 11
  • Platinum Award at “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Sarah Barretto, age 9
  • Platinum and Top Performer Award at “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Eva Costa, age 11
  • Platinum and Best Classical Piece Performer Award at “Keys! Music Challenge for Kids” Competition
Janelle Li, age 13
  • 3rd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2018 Bay State Contest.
Sabrina Zhang, age 16
  • 2nd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2018 Bay State Contest.
Sophia Popescu, age 6
  • 2nd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2018 Bay State Contest.
2017
Tomer Nuriyev, age 14
  • Grand Prix at the 5th Global Outstanding Piano Competition of the Chinese Artists Association. 2017, July, San Francisco.
  • 2nd place winner of 2017 the Steinway Society Piano Competition.
  • Wanda Paik Award from New England Piano Teachers Association. “His musicality came through his performance on such a difficult piece for his age group…..” said the judges at the New England Piano Teachers Association.
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2017 Bay State Contest.
  • 3rd place in New England Piano Teachers Association Middle School Competition.
  • Chopin Award for the Most Sensitive Playing, 2017 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
Justin Luk, age 15
  • Concertmaster of the Senior District Orchestra of South Eastern Massachusetts.
Michael Karshis, age 12
  • 1st place winner of 2017 Steinway Society Piano Competition.
  • Nancy Oliver Award from New England Piano Teachers Association. Watch his performance
  • Second appearance on the PBS TV show “From The Top”.
  • 1st place in New England Piano Teachers Association Middle School Competition
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2017 Bay State Contest.
  • The Best Overall prize winner at the 2017 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
Julia Gendin, age 9
  • Honorable Mention in 2017 at the Steinway Society Piano Competition.
  • Mozart Award as the most promising pianist at 2017 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
  • 2nd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2017 Bay State Contest.
Janelle Li, age 12
  • 4th place and Honorable Mention at Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2017 Bay State Contest.
Ian Lin, age 8
  • 3rd place winner of 2017 the Steinway Society Piano Competition.
  • Mozart Award as the most promising pianist at the 2017 URI Piano Extravaganza Competition
Nina Roco, age 12
  • First Violin section of the South Eastern District MMEA Festival Senior Orchestra.
Siddharth Bharadwaj, age 15
  • First Violin section of the South Eastern District MMEA Festival Senior Orchestra.
  • First Violin section of the SEMSBA Senior Orchestra.
Sridhar Murthy, age 14
  • Cello section of the South Eastern District MMEA Festival Junior Orchestra.
Melissa Souza, age 14
  • 3rd chair of the flute section of the South Eastern District MMEA Festival Junior Orchestra.
2016
Marianna McCallum, age 6 Michael Karshis, age 11
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2016 Bay State Contest.
  • 2nd place winner – 2016 STEINWAY SOCIETY PIANO COMPETITION. Listen.
  • Featured in the PBS TV show “From The Top”.
  • 2nd place winner and $125 cash prize at New England Piano Teachers Association middle school piano competition.
Tomer Nuriyev, age 13
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2016 Bay State Contest.
  • 2nd place winner – 2016 STEINWAY SOCIETY PIANO COMPETITION. Listen.
  • Nancy Oliver Award from New England Piano Teachers Association
Sabrina Zhang, age 13
  • 2nd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2016 Bay State Contest.
  • 2nd prize winner and a recipient of a $300 award of the 2016 Chaminade Society Instrumental competition.
Julia Gendin, age 8
  • 2nd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2016 Bay State Contest.
  • Debussy Award for Most Picturesque Playing – 2016 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Taoran Ye, age 11
  • 3rd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2016 Bay State Contest.
Emily Sun, age 11
  • 3rd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2016 Bay State Contest.
Ian Lin, age 7
  • 3rd place winner – 2016 International Young Artists Piano Competition, Washington, DC. Listen.
  • The Best Overall prize winner at 2016 URI Piano Extravaganza
  • Winner of 2016 Massachusetts Music Teachers Association Composition Competition
Siddharth Bharadwaj, age 14 Wenhao Yang, age 12
  • Schuman Award for Most Rhapsodic Playing – 2016 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Megan Wong, age 14
  • Schubert Award for Most Lyrical Playing – 2016 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Janelle Li, age 11
  • Liszt Award for Greatest Showmanship – 2016 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
  • Nancy Oliver Award from New England Piano Teachers Association
2015
Leina Xu, age 19
  • Assistant Principal Cello of the South Eastern District MMEA Festival Senior Orchestra
Seonwoo (Esther) Lee, age 13
  • First Chair First First Stand of the South Eastern District MMEA Festival Junior Orchestra. Her audition score is 109 out of 117!
Elisabeth Croonenberghs, age 16
  • Pop Artist Award and the Best Original Song Award (for her song Monsters) at Hard Rock Cafe Young Performers Club Showcase.
Marianna McCallum, age 7
  • 2015 Miss Massachusetts USA Ambassador.
Michael Karshis, age 10
  • Honorable Mention at 2015 International Young Artists Piano Competition, Washington, DC. Listen.
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2015 Bay State Contest.
  • The Overall Best Award at the 2015 Piano Extravaganza at URI
Emily Youm, age 7
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2015 Bay State Contest.
  • The Overall Best Award at the 2015 Piano Extravaganza at URI
Angelique Scully, age 17
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2015 Bay State Contest.
  • The Overall Best Award at the 2015 Piano Extravaganza at URI
Taoran Ye, age 10
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2015 Bay State Contest.
Janelle Li, age 10
  • 2nd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2015 Bay State Contest.
Danny Li, age 8
  • 2nd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2015 Bay State Contest.
Sabrina Zhang, age 12
  • 3rd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2015 Bay State Contest.
  • Tchaikovsky Award for Most Grandiose Playing at 2015 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Tomer Nuriyev, age 12
  • 3rd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2015 Bay State Contest.
  • Winner of 13th Westfield Young Artist Piano Competition.
Maggie Xu, age 13
  • Debussy Award for Most Picturesque Playing at the 2015 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition.
Fiona McCally, age 8
  • Tchaikovsky Award for Most Grandiose Playing at the 2015 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition.
2014
Our students Anthony Roytman, Lynn Fu, Steven Liao, and Elisabeth Croonenberghs performed in the Next Generation Concert at Hard Rock Cafe. And we want to congratulate the stellar performance of our piano competition team at the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2014 Bay State Contest!   Elisabeth Croonenberghs, age 16
  • Bravo Elisabeth! In stiff competition with many professional artists, Elisabeth has won the honor to be the 2014 Street Performer of the historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston!
Julia Gendina, age 6
  • Winner of the 12th Young Artists Piano Competition ( together with Iryna Gendina)
Angelique Scully, age 16
  • 1st place winner – 2014 STEINWAY SOCIETY PIANO COMPETITION. Angelique was offered a featured performance on the local PBS station WCRB.
  • 2nd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2014 Bay State Contest.
  • Beethoven Award for Most Dramatic Playing – 2014 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Emily Youm, age 6
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2014 Bay State Contest.
  • Chopin award for the Most Sensitive Playing, 2014 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Matthieu Huss, age 11
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2014 Bay State Contest.
  • Rachmaninoff Award for the Greatest Showmanship, 2014 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Taoran Ye, age 9
  • Liszt Award for the Best Fingers, 2014 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
  • 3rd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2014 Bay State Contest.
Leina Xu, age 18
  • First chair cello of the South Eastern District MMEA Festival Orchestra
  • Cello section of the All-State Festival Orchestra
Michael Karshis, age 9
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2014 Bay State Contest.
  • 2nd place winner – 2014 STEINWAY SOCIETY PIANO COMPETITION.
  • 2014 recipient of New England Piano Teachers Association Miriam Pizer Award
Emily Sun, age 9
  • 2nd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2014 Bay State Contest.
Analise Jia, age 7
  • 3rd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2014 Bay State Contest.
Maggie Xu, age 11
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2014 Bay State Contest.
Danny Li, age 9
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2014 Bay State Contest.
Sabrina Zhang, age 11
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2014 Bay State Contest.
2013
A large group of our students, ages 5 to 15, performed on April 7th at Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York. These students were the prize winners of the International Little Mozarts Competition. Many of them not only have received the honor to perform on the greatest stage in the world but also have received cash prizes. Our congratulations to Nina Roco, Danny Li, Matthew, Michele Wang, Emily Youm, Jason Sima, Maria Papoulidis, Steven Lio, and Huilin Emily Zhou. Elisabeth Croonenberghs was invited to perform in the Rotonda of Quincy Market, Boston during the 2013 Christmas week. For an hour she played piano and sang entertaining the crowd of more than 200 hundred people.   Margaret Potagal, age 8
  • Winner of New England Piano Teachers Association Alice Procter Award for outstanding original composition. Below are some comments from Ruth Shyu, Recital Chair, Composition Recital, NEPTA…. Her pieces have originality, logical structure, and great mood/color. She made good use of sequence and contrary motion between the melodic and bass line. … overall, it is an expressive and creative piece of music that the audience clearly enjoyed.
Chris Constantinou, age 13
  • Principal Cello – junior SEMSBA orchestra
Angelique Scully, age 15
  • 1st place – New England Paino Teachers’ Association Ruth Davidson High School Competition and a cash prize of $350. This competition was adjudicated by the famous musicians and music professors David Deveau, Alexander Korsantia, and Max Levinson.
  • 1st place and $150 cash prize – 2013 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Bonnie Liu, age 10
  • Gershwin Award for Most Stylish Playing, 2013 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Maggie Xu, age 10
  • Chopin Award for Most Sensitive Playing, 2013 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2013 Bay State Contest.
Catherine Song, age 15
  • 1st place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2013 Bay State Contest.
  • Rachmaninoff Award for the Greatest Showmanship, 2013 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Michael Karshis, age 8
  • 3rd place winner – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2013 Bay State Contest.
Sabrina Zhang, age 10
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2013 Bay State Contest.
Tiffany Cheung, age 9
  • Gershwin Award for Most Stylish Playing, 2013 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Taoran Ye, age 8
  • Schuman Award for Most Rhapsodic Playing, 2013 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Janelle Li, age 9
  • Schubert Award for Most Lyrical Playing, 2013 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
2011
More than 30 of our students became 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners in Crescendo International Festival and “Little Mozarts” competition and have performed at Carnegie Hall in NYC and Longy School of Music in Boston.   Catherine Song, age 13
  • Nancy Oliva Award for artistic achievement – New England Paino Teachers’ Association
  • Beethoven Award for Greatest Perseverance, 2011 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
  • Grand Prize at Young Promise International Music Competition
  • 1st place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2011 Bay State Contest.
Angelique Scully, age 13
  • Wanda Paik Award for artistic achievement – New England Paino Teachers’ Association
  • 1st Place and $150 cash award in New England Paino Teachers’ Association the Mildred Freiberg Middle School Competition
Christopher Chen, age 14
  • 1st place and $500 cash award in Chaminade Music Society Competition
  • Liszt Award for Greatest Showmanship, 2011 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
  • 2nd place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2011 Bay State Contest.
Brianna Arnold, age 13
  • First chair alt saxophone of the Jazz Ensemble of the South Eastern District MMEA Junior Festival
Leina Xu, age 17
  • First chair cello of the South Eastern District MMEA Festival Orchestra
Emily Sun, age 7
  • Mozart Award for the Youngest Performer/Most Promising, 2011 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Matthieu Huss, age 9
  • Debussy Award for Most Picturesque Playing, 2011 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Lucas Zheng, age 11
  • Gershwin Award for Most Stylish Playing, 2011 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Eleni Constantinou, age 12
  • The first violin fourth stand in the SEMSBA orchestra
Maggie Xu, age 8
  • 2nd place and a special award for “The Best Performance of the Impressionistic Work” at the 3rd Young Promise International Music Competition.
Michael Karshis, age 6
  • 1st place at the Kenneth A. Darrel Piano Competition.
  • 3rd place and a special award for “The Most Artistic Performance” at the 3rd Young Promise International Music Competition.
Danielle Oh, age 12
  • 2nd place at the Kenneth A. Darrel Piano Competition.
Sabrina Zhang, age 8
  • 1st place at the 3rd Young Promise International Music Competition..
Henry Karshis, age 11
  • 3rd place and a special award for “The Best Performance of the Shchedrin’s Work ” at the 3rd Young Promise International Music Competition.
Andrew Song, age 12
  • 3rd place and a special award for “The Best Performance of the Shchedrin’s Work ” at the 3rd Young Promise International Music Competition.
Amelia Yu, age 13
  • 3rd place at the Kenneth A. Darrel Piano Competition.
2012
In January and April of 2012 32 of our students has performed at Carnegie Hall and Merkin Hall in New York and at Pickman Concert Hall in Boston as the finalists and the winners of the 2012 Crescendo International Music Festival   Christopher Chen, age 15
  • Grand Prize Winner – 2012 Crescendo International Music Competition
Catherine Song, age 14
  • 2nd place winner – New England Paino Teachers’ Association Annual Piano Competition
  • Wanda Paik Award for artistic achievement – New England Paino Teachers’ Association
Andrew Song , age 13
  • Nancy Oliva Award for artistic achievement – New England Paino Teachers’ Association
Danielle Oh, age 13
  • First violin section second stand – junior SEMSBA orchestra
  • First violin section fourth stand – South Eastern Massachusetts District Junior Orchestra
Lucy Zhou, age 13
  • Concertmaster – junior SEMSBA orchestra
Angelique Scully, age 14
  • 2nd place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2012 Bay State Contest.
Huilin Emily Zhou, age 11
  • Concertmaster training track – STO orchestra at New England Conservatory
  • First violin section – South Eastern Massachusetts District Junior Orchestra
Maggie Xu, age 9
  • 3rd place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2012 Bay State Contest.
Emily Sun, age 8
  • 4th place and Honorable Mention- Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2012 Bay State Contest.
2010
Angelique Scully, age 12
  • Nancy Oliva Award for artistic achievement – New England Paino Teachers’ Association
  • 1st place – 2nd Young Promise International Music Competition
  • 1st place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2010 Bay State Contest.
  • 1st place – the First Kenneth A. Darrel Piano Competition.
Catherine Song, age 12
  • 1st place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2010 Bay State Contest.
Sabrina Zhang, age 8
  • 1st place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2010 Bay State Contest.
  • 1st place ($225) for the Best Performance of Chinese Piece – 25th International Young Artists Piano Competition in Washington, DC.
Kunwoo Shin, age 13
  • Nancy Oliva Award for artistic achievement – New England Paino Teachers’ Association
  • 2nd place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2010 Bay State Contest.
  • 2nd place – 2nd Young Promise International Music Competition.
  • Recipient of the Official Citation from Massachusetts State Senate
Christopher Chen, age 13
  • Wanda Paik Award for artistic achievement – New England Paino Teachers’ Association
  • 3rd place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2010 Bay State Contest.
Patrick Yu, age 8
  • Arthur Rubinstein Award for the most poised performance, 2010 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Andrew Song , age 11
  • Glenn Gould Award for the most inventive interpretation, 2010 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
  • 2nd place – 2nd Young Promise International Music Competition.
  • 4th place (Honorable Mention) – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2010 Bay State Contest.
Victoria Kray, age 8.
  • 2nd place – 2nd Young Promise International Music Competition.
Lynn Fu, age 9
  • Schubert Award for the most lyrical interpretation, 2010 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Matthew Wang, age 9
  • 4th place (Honorable Mention) – the First Kenneth A. Darrel Piano Competition.
Derek Nong, age 12
  • Liszt Award for showmanship and technique, 2010 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Lucy Zhou, age 11
  • Schumann Award for the most sensitive interpretation, 2010 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Isabelle Ng, age 11
  • 1st place winner ($250 scholarship) of the 2010 Foxboro Music Association Competition
Trio Allegro (Renee Yang -piano, Angela Zhang – violin, Kristina Sharra – violin).
  • Special Award for the “Most Spirited Performance”- 2nd Young Promise International Music Competition.
Danielle Oh, age 12
  • Brahms Award for the warmest/sonorous performance, 2010 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Kristina Sharra, age 14
  • Silver Medal, 2010 Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association Award
2009
Sabrina Zhang, age 7
  • 1st place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2009 Bay State Contest.
  • Glen Gould Award for most inventive interpretation, 2009 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
  • 2nd Prize and the Special Young Virtuoso Award – 2009 Young Promise International Music Competition
Patrick Yu, age 7
  • Special Young Promise Award – 2009 Young Promise International Music Competition
Henry Karshis, age 10
  • Haydn Award for the wittiest playing, 2009 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Andrew Song, age 10
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2009 Bay State Contest
  • 2nd Prize and the Special Award for Musicianship and Spirit– 2009 Young Promise International Music Competition
Benjamin Zheng, age 12
  • Tchaikovsky Award for most dramatic performance, 2009 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Lucy Zhou, age 10
  • Gershwin Award for most stylish playing, 2009 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition
Sophie Tollefson, age 14
  • 2nd place ($300) in Chaminade Music Society Competition
  • Recipient of the Official Citation from Massachusetts State Senate
Catherine Song, age 11
  • Recipient of the Official Citation from Massachusetts State Senate
  • 2nd Prize and the Special Award for the Best Performance of Baroque Music – 2009 Young Promise International Music Competition
Angelique Scully, age 11
  • 1st place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2009 Bay State Contest.
  • Recepient of the Official Citation from Massachusetts State Senate
  • 1st Prize and the Special Special Award for the Best Performance of Shchedrin’s work – 2009 Young Promise International Music Competition
  • 3rd place and a Bronze Medal – 53rd World Piano Competition in Cincinnati, OH.
Kunwoo Shin, age 12
  • 3rd place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2009 Bay State Contest
Christopher Chen , age 12
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2009 Bay State Contest
  • 1st Prize and the Special Special Award for Musicianship and Interpretation – 2009 Young Promise International Music Competition
Kevin Lee, age 15
  • Honorable Mention and the Special Award for the Best Interpretation of Romantic Music and Outstanding Musicianship -2009 Young Promise International Music Competition
Brandon Bloch, age 19
  • 1st place in 2008-2009 UPenn Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. As the 1st place winner, he has performed with UPenn Symphony Orchestra on March 22, 2009. Brandon performed Piano Concerto #1 by S. Prokofiev.
2008
Finale of 5th American Fine Arts Festival in NYC Every year students of the Sharon Music Academy compete with young musicians from 8 different states for the honor of performing on the best stages of New York in the finale of the American Fine Arts Festival. And this year 15 of our students became finalists and have played at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall and German Cultural Center. Christopher Chen, age 11
  • “Overall Best” Award and a cash prize  – 2008 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition.
  •  1st place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2008 Bay State Contest
Angelique Scully, age 10
  • Special “Schumann Award” – 2008 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition.
  • 2nd place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2008 Bay State Contest
Kevin Lee, age 14
  • Special “Ravel” Award – 2008 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition.
Isabelle Ng, age 9
  • Special “Beethoven Award” – 2008 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition.
Kunwoo Shin, age 11
  • Special “Horowitz Award” – 2008 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition.
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2008 Bay State Contest
Sophie Tollefson, age 13
  • Special “Schubert Award” – 2008 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition.
Catherine Song, age 10
  • 2nd place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2008 Bay State Contest
Helen Gao, age 12
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2007 Bay State Contest
2007
Sabrina Wang, age 6
  • Winner of American Fine Arts Festival with a featured performance at Carnegie Hall.
Catherine Song, age 10
  • Special Award “Most Sensitive Interpretation” – 2007 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition.
  • 1 prize ($100) – Concerto Competition, 22nd International Young Artists Piano Competition. As the winner of this competition, Catherine has performed with Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra on October 28th, 2007.
  • 3rd place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2007 Bay State Contest
Christopher Chen, age 10
  • Winner of American Fine Arts Festival with a featured performance at Carnegie Hall.
  • 2nd prize – Concerto Competition, 22nd International Young Artists Piano Competition.
  • 4th prize ($100) – Solo Competition, 22nd International Young Artists Piano Competition. This prize was specifically created for Cristopher to award his performance.
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2007 Bay State Contest
Shishi Chen, age 18
  • Winner of 2007 Chaminade Music Society Award ($500)
Xinlan Li, age 13
  • Special Award “Most Impressive Fingers” – 2007 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition with a comment from the judges -“A strikingly beautiful performance!”
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2007 Bay State Contest
  • 2nd prize – Concerto Competition, 22nd International Young Artists Piano Competition.
Helen Gao, age 11
  • 3rd place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2007 Bay State Contest
Angelique Scully, age 9
  • 3rd place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2007 Bay State Contest
Andrew Song, age 9
  • Special Award “Greatest Perseverance” – 2007 URI Piano Extravaganza Festival Competition.
2006
Brandon Bloch, age 17 Catherine Song, age 8
  • 3rd place – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2006 Bay State Contest.
  • 3rd place – Solo Competition, 21st International Young Artists Piano Competition
Christopher Chen, age 9
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2006 Bay State Contest.
Angelique Scully, age 9
  • Honorable Mention – Massachusetts Music Teachers Association 2006 Bay State Contest.
  • Angelique Scully was invited to perform on June 28th at the State Department in Washington, DC during the State of the Arts Concert Series, organized by the US State Department to promote music education in the US and abroad.
The finale of 3rd American Fine Arts Festival in NYC In competition with young musicians from 8 different states many students of Sharon Music Academy won the honor to perform in the Finale of the American Fine Arts Festival. Brandon Bloch, Angelique Scully, and Sophie Tollefson played at Carnegie Hall. Sophie Tollefson, Matthew Freyman, Sophia Belilovsky, Michelle Cao, Renee Yang, Brooke Yang, Donna Zhang, Rodger Lu, Alex, Amelia Yu, Emily Xu, Grace, Gloria Han, Christopher Chen, Andrew, and Catherine Song performed at a wonderful concert hall at German Cultural Center. Sela Miller, together with guitarist Igor Golberg, performed an unusual and beautiful duo for flute and guitar.
2005
Angelique Scully, age 8
  • 1st place – Concerto Competition, 20th International Young Artists Piano Competition. Awarded an honor to perform with Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra.
  • 1st place – Solo Competition, 20th International Young Artists Piano Competition
Shishi Chen, age 16
  • 2nd place – Concerto Competition, 20th Young Artists Piano Competition
Melody Chen, age 10
  • Honorable Mention – Concerto Competition, 20th Young Artists Piano Competition
Brandon Bloch, age 16
  • Winner of Chaminade Music Society Award
2nd American Fine Arts Festival in NYC Since March thousands of young musicians from all over the US have been competing for the honor to play on the best stages of New York City during the Festival finale. That’s why it is so remarkable that so many students of the Sharon Music Academy (SMA) have been selected to perform on the famous stages of New York. These students, ranging in age from 6 to 16, performed musical pieces as a reward for their hard work and perseverance that resulted in their winning regional competitions in this area. Brandon Bloch, age 15 performed Prelude and Fugue in F# Minor by J.S. Bach at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Xinlan Li, Amy Gao, and Grace Han have also won the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall. Ari Kriegel and Emily Bouton both performed at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center.   Ari played Romance and Intermezzo from Viennese Carnival by R. Schumann for piano and Emily accompanied Sarah Kishinevsky in a duet for violin and piano by Gluck. The Columbia Artists Management INC Recital Hall saw nine SMA students perform: Sophie Tollefson, Matthew Freyman, Nathan Gore, Sophia Belilovsky, Michelle Cao, Renee Yang, Brooke Yang, Joseph Lanzel, Julie Sun.

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